Keynote Leadership
Leading yourself and others through change and transformation
When Ilja Grzeskowitz talks about leadership and change management, it quickly becomes clear what a wealth of experience the former top manager has. No wonder, since during his time as managing director for Karstadt, Wertheim, Hertie and IKEA, which was characterized by crises, restructuring and permanent change, he managed a total of 11 locations throughout Germany, was responsible for a sales volume of over 500 million euros and led hundreds of department heads and thousands of employees. His most important insight: good leadership and sustainable results go hand in hand. Leadership is not a title, but an attitude The leadership keynote speech is packed with practical examples, inspiring stories and modern leadership tools that can be used immediately in everyday life. And modern leadership is more important today than ever, as every entrepreneur, manager and executive knows. But in times of digitalization, radically new customer requirements and permanent change in the VUKA World the topic Leadership to a completely new skill set and mindset. From traditional boss to modern leader On the one hand, as a leader, you have to get used to the changed framework conditions yourself and permanently realign your own thought and behavior patterns. But that's not all, because your own employees, team members and customers also want to be guided through this transformation process. They need and expect orientation, transparent communication and empathy. How to manage change successfully In his lecture Leadership, Ilja Grzeskowitz explains how it is possible to manage the balancing act between personal responsibility and shared team spirit on a daily basis without the famous raised index finger, but in a way that invites you to question your own ways of thinking and try out new approaches. The mixture of well-founded, scientific background and experience from daily management work provides many aha insights, invites a change of perspective and ultimately leads to a leadership culture that focuses on people without losing sight of the opportunities of digitalization.
Helping global leaders to master change before change masters them
Ilja Grzeskowitz is an economist, bestselling author, and globally sought-after keynote speaker for change. His mission: to show organizations that change isn't a threat, but the greatest opportunity of our time.
Starting out as Germany's youngest managing director, Ilja led ten locations throughout the country for Karstadt, Hertie, Wertheim, and IKEA. He managed thousands of employees and was responsible for a sales volume of over 500 million euros. In times marked by permanent restructuring, threatened store closures, and massive staff cuts, he succeeded in developing motivated and committed teams across vastly different circumstances.
At the height of the department store crisis, he realized what really mattered: putting people at the center. Only with the right mindset can you take away the fear of change and create appetite for the future. With the learnings from that time, he now inspires and moves people all over the world.
Ilja is a former guest lecturer at the Berlin School of Law and Economics and SRH University, and the founder of the Change Leaders Academy. To date, he has published 14 books in 7 languages, including the 2025 SPIEGEL bestseller “Freedom Starts in Your Mind", as well as earlier hits such as “Think it. Do it. Change it." and "The Changemaker Mindset".
His credo: Change doesn't need perfect plans, but people who start. That's why his name stands for one thing above all: lived change that creates the desire to take action. His clients and the media love to call him "Mr. Change", because Ilja Grzeskowitz stands for one thing above all: a living proof of what the power of change is all about.
Among his clients are global brands like Accor, Allianz, Audi, Bayer, BASF, Biogen, BMW, Cancom, Capri Sun, Continental, DPD, Kao, Lufthansa, Nespresso, Marriott, Mercedes, Orange, O2, SWISS, T-Mobile, Zalando, and Zara, alongside three-quarters of Germany's DAX companies and the who's who of European mid-sized enterprises.
As a globally sought-after speaker, Ilja has delivered 1,200+ keynotes across 27 countries and five continents, and is considered "Germany's most successful change expert" (OÖ Nachrichten). His tagline says the rest: Making. Change. Happen. Helping change leaders master change before change masters them.
His keynotes are marked by northern German humor, bold ideas, and contagious passion for what happens when we stop hesitating and start shaping. He makes complex connections tangible and sends his audiences home with practical, actionable insights.
When Ilja isn't standing on a stage around the globe, he's passionate about playing golf (with varying success), rooting for HSV (despite everything), and enjoying his favorite drink, coffee (lots of it and always black). Some things simply never change.